Sealed envelope with removable insert

ABSTRACT

A continuous series of envelopes with detachable edge strips for feeding the envelopes through processing equipment wherein each envelope and an insert contained therein may be printed. Each envelope contains a permanent adhesive along three edges to seal the front and back portions and form a pocket wherein the insert is housed. The front and back portions are bonded along the remaining edge by a releasable adhesive so that as a portion of the insert adjacent to the remaining edge is pulled away from the envelope, the bond of the releasable adhesive is broken and the insert is removed from the envelope in a one-step operation.

Inventor Primary Examiner-Donald F. Norton Attorney- Kenyon, Kenyon, Reilly Carr & Chapin ABSTRACT: A continuous series of envelopes with detachable edge strips for feeding the envelopes through processing equipment wherein each envelope and an insert contained therein may be printed. Each envelope contains a permanent adhesive along three edges to seal the front and back portions and form a pocket wherein the insert is housed. The front and back portions are bonded along the remaining edge by a releasable adhesive so that as a portion of the insert adjacent to the remaining edge is pulled away from the envelope, the bond of the releasable adhesive is broken and the insert is removed from the envelope in a one-step operation.

SEALED ENVELOPE WITH REMOVABLE INSERT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to a continuous series of envelopes for use in high-speed processing equipment, and more particularly, to envelopes having at lease one insert which is readily removable therefrom.

High-speed printers are frequently used by organizations which send large quantity mailings to, for example, their customers or clients. This type of equipment requires the mailings to be supplied to it in a continuous series for tabulating the information desired to be forwarded. One example of a use for such equipment is a banking organization which sends a yearly statement to its depositors containing the amount of interest earned during the year by the respective depositor.

Handling of the envelope has frequently been cumbersome and confusing to the recipient in the case of prior assemblies used with such equipment. Thus, in one instance, a sealed envelope containing an insert has been used which requires the recipient to peel back the front portion of the envelope in order to gain access to the insert being forwarded. In another instance, a detachable edge strip has to be removed by the recipient in order to expose the insert being forwarded. With both of these envelopes a two-step operation is required to remove the insert from the envelope as a portion must first be peeled or detached in order to expose the insert, and only then may the insert be removed. Since the recipient is commonly not accustomed to handling such envelopes, the recipient is often confused as to how to effect proper removal of the insert. Further, these type of envelopes have also caused the recipient to mutilate the insert in attempting to remove it from the envelope either because the recipient does not follow the instructions printed on the envelope or because of misalignments and other manufacturing defects preventing proper opening.

Other frequent disadvantages of prior art envelopes are the cost of the tooling required to manufacture a variety of envelope sizes, and complicated manufacturing procedures requiring the manufacturer to employ a slower than desirable rate of assembly of the product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A continuous series of envelopes is provided having superimposed plies which are delimited by transverse lines of weakening at spaced intervals and which form the front and back portions of the envelopes. At least one edge of each envelope has the front and back portions releasably sealed to each other as by a releasable adhesive. Each envelope also has permanent closure means along the remaining edges for bonding the front and back portions and forming a pocket. The insert for the envelope is housed within the pocket and has a portion thereof exposed so that as that portion of the insert is pulled away from the envelope, at least a portion of the bond of the releasable adhesive is broken and the insert is removed from the envelope.

In another embodiment, the edge of the envelope containing the releasable adhesive has a cutout extending through the front and back portions of the envelope, and the insert has a tab member. The tab member extends into the cutout or beyond the edge of the envelope, so that the recipient may readily grasp the tab and remove the insert from the envelope. In each of these embodiments, the insert may be adjacent to but free of the releasable adhesive or, alternatively, the insert may be bonded to the front and back portions of the envelope by means of the releasable adhesive.

The series of envelopes may also be provided with one or more detachable edge strips having pin-feed holes therethrough so that the envelopes may be fed through highspeed processing equipment wherein printed material is imparted thereon. In addition, the front portion of the envelope may be provided with a carbon backing as by spot-carbonizing so that differing printed information may be simultaneously placed on the envelope and on the insert contained within the envelope.

Various embodiments of this described below.

One advantage of the type of envelopes disclosed herein is that the recipient may cause the insert to be removed from the envelope in a single operation. The recipient merely grasps the exposed portion of the insert while holding the other end of the envelope and, by pulling or snapping the insert, causes the bond of the releasable adhesive to be broken to thereby free the insert from the envelope. In this manner the insert may be removed without mutilation and may accordingly be retained as a permanent copy of the information contained thereon.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a sealed envelope containing a readily removable insert.

It is another object of this invention to provide a sealed en velope containing a releasable adhesive along at least one edge through which an insert contained in the envelope may be removed.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a sealed envelope containing an insert which may be removed therefrom in a single operation.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a continuous series of envelopes capable of economical manufacture in a variety of envelope sizes.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

invention are further BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. l is a perspective view of the envelope of this invention illustrated as a continuous series of envelopes, a single envelope detached from the remaining envelopes, and a single envelope having the insert removed therefrom;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the sealed envelope illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the real portion of the sealed envelope of FIG. ll;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of another embodiment of this invention wherein the sealed envelope is provided with a single edge strip and one edge of the insert is contiguous with the edge of the envelope containing the cutout;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of another embodiment of this invention wherein the sealed envelope is provided with a single edge strip and one edge of the insert terminates adjacent to but free of the releasable adhesive, and has a tab protruding into cutouts in the front and back portions of the envelope;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of another embodiment of this invention wherein the sealed envelope is provided with a pair of edge strips and the insert tab protrudes beyond one of the edges of the envelope which is not provided with an edge strip;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of another embodiment of this invention wherein the sealed envelope is provided with a pair of edge strips and one edge of the insert terminates adjacent to but free of the releasable adhesive, and has a tab protruding into a cutout;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of another embodiment of this invention wherein the sealed envelope is provided with a pair of edge strips and the insert tab protrudes into one of the edge strips;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of another embodiment of this invention wherein one edge of the sealed envelope is provided with a single edge strip and the insert tab protrudes beyond the opposite edge of the envelope;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of another embodiment of this invention wherein the sealed envelope is provided with a pair of edge strips and perforated cutout portions in front and back of the envelope;

FIG. Ill is a plan view of another embodiment of this invention wherein the sealed envelope is provided with a removable edge strip along one side and perforations through the insert along the other side with the tab protruding beyond the edge of the envelope; and

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 12-12 of FIG. 11 indicating the manner in which a releasable adhesive extends through spaced-apart holes in the insert to contact both the front and back portions of the envelope.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to the drawings, one of the preferred forms of the sealed envelope assembly is illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. The envelope assembly 10 comprises a continuous series of adjacent rectangular envelopes which are delimited by transverse lines of weakening 11. Each envelope is detachable from adjacent envelopes by tearing or cutting along the line 11 separating the respective envelopes. The envelope assembly is further provided with a detachable edge strip 12 at each side which contains a row of pin-feed holes 13 therein to enable the strip of envelopes to be fed through processing equipment. The edge strips 12 may be removed from the envelopes by a conventional type of slitting operation. Each envelope in the assembly 10 includes a front portion 14 and a rear portion 15. A permanent adhesive is provided along the edges 16, 17 and 18 of the rear portion of the envelope for permanently sealing these edges of the envelope assembly to contain an insert 20. The remaining edge of the envelope assembly is provided with a releasable adhesive at edge 21 for temporarily securing the front and back portions to one another. One type of releasable adhesive which has been found satisfactory is a fugitive adhesive, formula 2548-8 of Delpex Adhesives Ltd., Scarborough, Ontario, Canada. This adhesive is a water-based synthetic resin having a solids content of 40.0 and a viscosity in the range of 75-125 centerpoise.

Along the edge 21, a cutout extends through the front and rear portions 14 and 15 of the envelope. One edge of the insert contains a semicircular or other shaped tab 20a which extends into the cutout 22 when the insert is within the envelope. The insert 20 in this embodiment is registered adjacent to but free of each of the adhesive edges 16, 17, 18 and 21 of the envelope with tab 20a being exposed. The front portion 14 of the envelope contains on its inner surface carbon backings 23. An additional sheet (not shown) may be superimposed over the front portion 14 and serve as a copy which may be retained for the senders records. Such additional sheet may be provided with a carbon backing on the surface adjacent the front portion 14 so that the address will reproduce on the envelope assembly.

Describing one manner in which the envelope may be utilized as the series of envelopes are fed through a high-speed printer, a plate bearing the recipients name and address as well as personal information such as his account number and the amount of his account is brought into contact with the additional sheet. The name and address portion of the printing plate is inked in a conventional manner so that this information appears on the additional sheet which may be retained as a record copy. By means of the carbon backing on the additional sheet, the address portion is reproduced on the face of the envelope, and data is also reproduced as desired on insert 20 because of the carbon backing 23. The portion of the printing plate bearing the personal information is not reproduced on the front portion 14 of the envelope since there is no carbon backing on the additional sheet in this area but appears on the insert 20 because of the carbon backing 23 provided in that areafAccordingly, upon mailing of the envelope the per sonal information contained on the insert may only be observed after the envelope has been opened. Alternatively, the additional sheet may be eliminated when a record copy is not desired.

The envelope may be provided with a printed postage permit on the front portion 14 so that it may immediately be mailed upon completing the printing process.

Once the recipient has received the envelope via a normal mail delivery, he may remove the insert in a simple one-step operation. The sealed envelope assembly 10 is held by one hand in the area indicated at 24 while the recipient grasps the tab 20a. By pulling or snapping the tab portion 20a in accordance with instructions which may be printed thereon as shown in FIG. 1, the bond of the releasable adhesive is broken and the insert is removed from the envelope. In this manner, the insert may be retained by the recipient as a permanent record.

The sealed envelope assembly 10 may also be provided with a return envelope which is removably attached to the rear portion thereof. This configuration is desirable when the recipient is to return the insert material to the sender. Here, when the recipient is ready to return the insert material, he detaches the return envelope from the remaining assembly and with the insert placed therein returns it to the sender. The return envelope may be adhered to the back portion of the envelope assembly 10 by means of the releasable adhesive previously described, or in any other detachable manner.

Another embodiment of the sealed envelope assembly is illustrated in FIG. 4. Here, the envelope assembly is provided with an edge strip 31 along only one edge, which strip again may be removed by a conventional slitting operation. The front and back portions of the envelope assembly are permanently adhered along three edges in the same manner as previously described. The insert is again spaced within the pocket formed by the permanently adhered edges; however, the remaining edge of the insert extends to the edge 32 of the envelope. In this embodiment a releasable adhesive 32a is provided on both the front and back portions along edge 32 for engaging the insert to cause sealing of the envelope. The cutout 33 is similar to that previously described with a portion of the insert 34 extending therein. Here, however, no tab is provided since a portion of the insert edge protrudes into the eutout 33. The insert is again removed by the recipient in the same manner as previously described with reference to FIGS. l-3.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 is the same as previously described for FIGS. 1-3 except that an edge strip 35 is provided along only one side of the envelope. This configuration is generally satisfactory for feeding smaller width envelopes. The remainder of the assembly and the method of removal of the insert is the same as that previously described with reference to FIGS. l-3.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the envelope assembly with the insert tab being exposed along the bottom or longer edge 40 of the envelope. In the embodiment of FIG. 6 the releasable adhesive attaches both the front and back portions to the insert along edge 40 of the envelope in a manner similar to that described in FIG. 4, and the tab 42 is illustrated as being semicircular and extending beyond the edge of the envelope although it could be provided in the same manner illustrated in FIG. 4. In this embodiment the base of the semicircular tab 42 is coincident with the adjacent edges of the front and back portions of the envelope. In FIG. 7 the insert 43 terminates adjacent to the releasable adhesive and contains a tab 44 which protrudes into the cutout 45 in a similar manner to the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 5.

The embodiment of FIG. 8 illustrates an envelope having a pair of edge strips 51 and 52, the former of which is the same as previously described with reference to FIGS. 1-3. The other edge strip 52 has an insert tab 53 protruding therein. This type of edge strip cannot be removed by the normal slitting operation since this would also cause the tab 53 to be severed from the insert. Accordingly, a manual tearing of the edge strip 52 in an outward manner is necessitated. The insert is contained within the envelope in the same manner as illustrated in FIG. 6 with the exception that the tab 53 protrudes from an edge of the envelope having an edge strip.

The embodiment of FIG. 9 is similar to that described in FIG. 4 with the tab 60 extending beyond the shorter edge of the envelope. Additionally, the cutout extending through the front and back portions has been eliminated. In this embodiment, the pin-feed holes 62 on the right-hand side are illustrated as being within the margin of the envelope. This configuration may be employed when it is not important to the recipient if holes are contained on a portion of the insert. The insert ply 611 is again removed by grasping tab 60 in the manner previously described. If it is desired, tab 60 may be folded back so that it does not protrude beyond the edge of the envelope.

The embodiment of FIG. It) depicts a sealed envelope which differs from that of FIG. 8 with respect to the manner in which the insert ply 65 is removed therefrom. Here, the cutout through the front and back portions of the envelope is in the nature of perforated weakening lines 66 in said portions and the insert extends past and between the two perforated lines 66. Once the edge strips have been detached, the insert ply 65 may be removed from the envelope by grasping the perforated cutout 66. A pulling or snapping action as previously discussed causes both the perforated cutout portions and the insert to be removed from the envelope in a one-step operation.

Another variation of the sealed envelope assembly is illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12 wherein pinfeed holes are provided on only the left-hand side of the envelope in a removable edge strip. This configuration is similar to that of FIG. 9, however, here the releasable adhesive 70a may be provided only on either the front portion 73 or the back portion 72 of the envelope to effect sealing of the envelope at edge 7 l by engaging the other portion 72 or 73 respectively, through holes 74 in the insert 70 (FIG. 12). The insert ply is again removed in the same manner as previously described.

It is apparent that different features employed in each of the embodiments described may be interchanged with some of the features contained in some of the other embodiments. In all instances, however, the technique for removal of the insert is identical, i.e., the recipient exerts a pulling or snapping force on the insert which in turn breaks the bond of the releasable adhesive and causes the insert to be removed from the envelope.

It is further noted that the techniques for transmitting information through the face of the envelope to the insert ply are not limited to the use of a particular type of carbon backing such as spot-carbonizing; carbonless paper, self-imaging paper, or the equivalent may also be employed. Furthermore, it is apparent that this type of envelope may be utilized for sending a plurality ofinserts in a single envelope.

Thus, there has been described a sealed envelope assembly containing an insert therein which may be readily removed in a single operation, i.e., the recipient holds the envelope in one hand and pulls or snaps the insert from its confinement with his other hand by means of the exposed portion of the insert. The releasable bond is thereby broken with the insert being removed without mutilation. The average recipient is thus not confronted with a complicated assembly and may perform the necessary removal step with a minimal amount of inconvenience or confusion.

Although the above description is directed to preferred embodimcnts of the invention, it is noted that other variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and, therefore, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

What is claimed is:

l. A continuous series of envelopes comprising superimposed plies forming the front and back portions of the envelopes, the said envelopes being delimited by transverse lines of weakening at spaced intervals along said superimposed piles to form at least one envelope having a cutout extending through the said front and back portions at one edge thereof, closure means disposed along the remaining edges of said one envelope for permanently securing its said front and back portions and forming a pocket within said envelope, at least one insert ply housed within the pocket and having a portion thereof extending into the cutout at said one edge, and releasable adhesive means temporarily securing said front and back portions along said one edge, whereby said portion of said insert ply extending into the cutout may be pulled away from said envelope to break the bond of said releasable adhesive means and remove said insert ply from said envelope.

2. A continuous series of envelopes in accordance with claim I wherein the cutout is located at the approximate center of the said one edge.

3. A continuous series of envelopes in accordance with claim 1 which further includes a detachable strip along at least one edge of the envelopes to provide a feeding means for said series of envelopes through processing equipment and wherein the cutout is in an edge of said one envelope having a said detachable strip therealong.

4. A continuous series of envelopes in accordance with claim 1 which further includes a detachable strip along at least one edge of the envelopes to provide a feeding means for said series of envelopes through processing equipment, and wherein the cutout is in an edge of said one envelope not having a said detachable strip therealong.

5. A continuous series of envelopes in accordance with claim 1 wherein said insert ply is spaced from and free of said releasable adhesive means and said insert ply has a tab portion extending into the cutout.

6. A continuous series of envelopes in accordance with claim ll wherein said insert ply has a tab member extending beyond said one edge.

7. A continuous series of envelopes in accordance with claim 1 wherein an edge of said insert ply is contiguous to said one edge and said releasable adhesive means engages said insert ply.

8. A continuous series of envelopes in accordance with claim 1 wherein an edge of said insert ply is contiguous to said one edge and said insert ply has a plurality of holes for said releasable adhesive means, whereby said releasable adhesive means temporarily secures said front and back portions to each other through the holes in the insert ply.

Q. A continuous series of envelopes in accordance with claim l which further includes a carbon backing on said front portion of the envelopes, whereby indicia may be selectively printed on said insert ply.

110. A continuous series of envelopes in accordance with claim 1 wherein said portion of said insert ply extending into the cutout contains thereon instructions regarding the method of removing said insert ply from its envelope.

I1. A continuous series of envelopes for use in processing equipment wherein differing material is to be selectively printed on each envelope and on an insert within each respective envelope, which comprises superimposed plies forming the front and back portions of said envelopes and having at the approximate center of one edge of each envelope a cutout extending through said portions, each of said envelopes being defined by transverse lines of weakening at spaced intervals along said superimposed plies, a detachable edge strip along at least one side of the series of envelopes and having means for feeding the series of envelopes through the processing equipment, adhesive means disposed along the remaining edges of each envelope for permanently securing said front and back portions to one another to form a pocket within each of said envelopes, at least one insert ply within the pocket adjacent said permanent adhesive means, a tab member extending from said insert ply into said cutout, said front portion containing reproducing means on the inner side for imparting indicia to said insert ply, and releasable adhesive means temporarily securing said front and back portions along said one edge of each of said envelopes so that said portion of said insert ply extending into the cutout may be pulled away from its respective envelope to break the bond of said releasable adhesive means and remove said insert ply from the envelope.

112. An envelope comprising a front ply, a back ply, closure means disposed along all but one edge of the envelope for permanently securing said front and back plies to one another and forming a pocket within the envelope, at least one insert ply housed within the pocket and having a gripping portion disposed adjacent the remaining edge of the envelope, and releasable means temporarily securing said front and back plies along said remaining edge, so that as said gripping portion of said insert ply is pulled away from the envelope said releasable means is caused to open releasing said insert ply from the envelope.

13. An envelope in accordance with claim 12 wherein said closure means comprises a permanent adhesive and said releasable means comprises a releasable adhesive.

14. An envelope in accordance with claim 13 wherein said insert ply is adhered to said front and back plies by means of said releasable adhesive and contains thereon a tab extending beyond said remaining edge of the envelope.

15. An envelope in accordance with claim 13 which further includes a cutout along said remaining edge extending through said front and back plies, and said gripping portion of said insert ply extends into the cutout.

16. An envelope in accordance with claim 15 wherein the cutout is located at the approximate center of said remaining edge, and said gripping portion comprises a tab extending into the cutout.

17. An envelope in accordance with claim 13 wherein said gripping portion comprises a tab member protruding beyond said remaining edge of the envelope.

18. An envelope in accordance with claim 12 which further includes a perforated portion in said front and back plies adjacent said remaining edge, and said gripping portion of said insert ply extends into said perforated portion, whereby said perforated portion may be grasped and pulled away from the envelope to cause said insert ply to o en said releasable means thereby releasing said insert ply from the envelope.

19. An envelope in accordance with claim 12 wherein an edge of said insert ply is contiguous to said remaining edge, and which further includes a plurality of holes adjacent said remaining edge so that said releasable means secures said front and back plies through said holes.

20. An envelope in accordance with claim 12 which further includes an additional envelope releasably adhered to said back ply.

21. An envelope which comprises a front ply, a back ply, closure means for permanently securing a portion of said front and back plies, at least one insert ply housed between said front and back plies, said insert ply having a gripping portion exposed along one edge of said envelope, and releasable means temporarily securing said front and back plies along at least said one edge so that as said gripping portion of said insert ply is pulled away from the envelope said releasable means is caused to open releasing said insert ply from the envelope.

22. An envelope in accordance with claim 21 which further includes a cutout along said one edge extending through said front and back plies, and said gripping portion of said insert ply extends into the cutout.

23. An envelope in accordance with claim 22 wherein the cutout is located at the approximate center of said one edge, and said gripping portion comprises a tab extending into the cutout. 

1. A continuous series of envelopes comprising superimposed plies forming the front and back portions of the envelopes, the said envelopes being delimited by transverse lines of weakening at spaced intervals along said superimposed plies to form at least one envelope having a cutout extending through the said front and back portions at one edge thereof, closure means disposed along the remaining edges of said one envelope for permanently securing its said front and back portions and forming a pocket within said envelope, at least one insert ply housed within the pocket and having a portion thereof extending into the cutout at said one edge, and releasable adhesive means temporarily securing said front and back portions along said one edge, whereby said portion of said insert ply extending into the cutout may be pulled away from said envelope to break the bond of said releasable adhesive means and remove said insert ply from said envelope.
 2. A continuous series of envelopes in accordance with claim 1 wherein the cutout is located at the approximate center of the said one edge.
 3. A continuous series of envelopes in accordance with claim 1 which further includes a detachable strip along at least one edge of the envelopes to provide a feeding means for said series of envelopes through processing equipment and wherein the cutout is in an edge of said one envelope having a said detachable strip therealong.
 4. A continuous series of envelopes in accordance with claim 1 which further includes a detachable strip along at least one edge of the envelopes to provide a feeding means for said series of envelopes through processing equipment, and wherein the cutout is in an edge of said one envelope not having a said detachable strip therealong.
 5. A continuous series of envelopes in accordance with claim 1 wherein said insert ply is spaced from and free of said releasable adhesive means and said insert ply has a tab portion extending into the cutout.
 6. A continuous series of envelopes in accordance with claim 1 wherein said insert ply has a tab member extending beyond said one edge.
 7. A continuous series of envelopes in accordance with claim 1 wherein an edge of said insert ply is contiguous to said one edge and said releasable adhesive means engages said insert ply.
 8. A continuous series of envelopes in accordance with claim 1 wherein an edge of said insert ply is contiguous to said one edge and said insert ply has a plurality of holes for said releasable adhesive means, whereby said releasable adhesive means temporarily secures said front and back portions to each other through the holes in the insert ply.
 9. A continuous series of envelopes in accordance with claim 1 which further includes a carbon backing on said front portion of the envelopes, whereby indicia may be selectively printed on said insert ply.
 10. A continuous series of envelopes in accordance with claim 1 wherein said portion of said insert ply extending into the cutout contains thereon instructions regarding the method of removing said insert ply from its envelope.
 11. A continuous series of envelopes for use in processing equipment wherein differing material is to be selectively printed on each envelope and on an insert within each respective envelope, which comprises superimposed plies forming the front and back portions of said envelopes and having at the approximate center of one edge of each envelope a cutout extending through said portions, each of said envelopes being defined by transverse lines of weakening at spaced intervals along said superimposed plies, a detachable edge strip along at least one side of the series of envelopes and having means for feeding the series of envelopes through the processing equipment, adhesive means disposed along the remaining edges of each envelope for permanently securing said front and back portions to one another to form a pocket within each of said envelopes, at least one insert ply within the pocket adjacent said permanent adhesive means, a tab member extending from said insert ply into said cutout, said front portion containing reproducing means on the inner side for imparting indicia to said insert ply, and releasable adhesive means temporarily securing said front and back portions along said one edge of each of said envelopes so that said portion of said insert ply extending into the cutout may be pulled away from its respective envelope to break the bond of said releasable adhesive means and remove said insert ply from the envelope.
 12. An envelope comprising a front ply, a back ply, closure means disposed along all but one edge of the envelope for permanently securing said front and back plies to one another and forming a pocket within the envelope, at least one insert ply housed within the pocket and having a gripping portion disposed adjacent the remaining edge of the envelope, and releasable means temporarily securing said front and back plies along said remaining edge, so that as said gripping portion of said insert ply is pulled away from the envelope said releasable means is caused to open releasing said insert ply from the envelope.
 13. An envelope in accordance with claim 12 wherein said closure means comprises a permanent adhesive and said releasable means comprises a releasable adhesive.
 14. An envelope in accordance with claim 13 wherein said insert ply is adhered to said front and back plies by means of said releasable adhesive and contains thereon a tab extending beyond said remaining edge of the envelope.
 15. An envelope in accordance with claim 13 which further includes a cutout along said remaining edge extending through said front and back plies, and said gripping portion of said insert ply extends into the cutout.
 16. An envelope in accordance with claim 15 wherein the cutout is located at the approximate center of said remaining edge, and said gripping portion comprises a tab extending into the cutout.
 17. An envelope in accordance with claim 13 wherein said gripping portion comprises a tab member protruding beyond said remaining edge of the envelope.
 18. An envelope in accordance with claim 12 which further includes a perforated portion in said front and back plies adjacent said remaining edge, and said gripping portion of said insert ply extends into said perforated portion, whereby said perforated portion may be grasped and pulled away from the envelope to cause said insert ply to open said releasable means thereby releasing said insert ply from the envelope.
 19. An envelope in accordance with claim 12 wherein an edge of said insert ply is contiguous to said remaining edge, and which further includes a plurality of holes adjacent said remaining edge so that said releasable means secures said front and back plies through said holes.
 20. An envelope in accordance with claim 12 which further includes an additional envelope releasably adhered to said back ply.
 21. An envelope which comprises a front ply, a back ply, closure means for permanently securing a portion of said front and back plies, at least one insert ply housed between said front and back plies, said insert ply having a gripping portion exposed along one edge of said envElope, and releasable means temporarily securing said front and back plies along at least said one edge so that as said gripping portion of said insert ply is pulled away from the envelope said releasable means is caused to open releasing said insert ply from the envelope.
 22. An envelope in accordance with claim 21 which further includes a cutout along said one edge extending through said front and back plies, and said gripping portion of said insert ply extends into the cutout.
 23. An envelope in accordance with claim 22 wherein the cutout is located at the approximate center of said one edge, and said gripping portion comprises a tab extending into the cutout. 